Innovations-Magazine-February-2024 - 10

ASSOCIATION NEWS
Task Force Recommends Emotional Intelligence Training,
Coping Resources to Improve Pharmacy Personnel Well-Being
The Task Force on Pharmacists and
Pharmacy Personnel Mental Health and
Well-Being met on August 29-30, 2023, at
NABP Headquarters in Mount Prospect,
IL. This task force was established pursuant
to the 2023-2024 presidential initiative of
NABP President Lenora S. Newsome, PD,
which focuses on providing resources to
support the mental health and well-being
of pharmacists and pharmacy staff.
After reviewing materials on pharmacist
well-being, regulatory and practice trends,
and other educational resources, members of
the task force made several recommendations
to improve pharmacists' and pharmacy
personnel's mental health and well-being.
The task force recommended that NABP,
through a statement that complements
and accompanies its work in this area,
acknowledge the differences between
work-induced stress and preexisting mental
health issues and that both may affect patient
safety and public health if not addressed
by the individual and/or employer. In
addition, the task force advised NABP to
promote emotional intelligence training
by developing continuing pharmacy
education for pharmacy personnel/licensees
in collaboration with the Pharmacy
Technician Certification Board and the
National Healthcareer Association and
by collaborating with the Accreditation
Council for Pharmacy Education to
incorporate this topic into schools and
colleges of pharmacy curricular programs.
The task force also recommended that
NABP develop a survey for the boards of
pharmacy to give to pharmacists, pharmacy
technicians, and pharmacy permit holders/
registrants upon renewal of their license
or permit/registration. The survey should
ask whether licensees are aware of available
mental health resources. Licensees who
indicate unawareness of these resources
should be sent relevant information.
The task force then recommended that
NABP continue to encourage the boards
8 | FEBRUARY 2024
of pharmacy to review and, if possible,
reduce unnecessary and burdensome rules.
NABP should also reiterate support for use
of the following regulatory approaches:
expanding pharmacy technician
scope of practice and responsibility;
allowing shared pharmacy services; and
increasing allowances for automation,
including the use of pick-up lockers.
The task force also recommended
that NABP address challenging working
conditions with expanded access to resources
addressing mental health and coping
skills. With this in mind, NABP should
move forward with adding a mental health
resources web page to the NABP website
and encourage the boards of pharmacy
to refer licensees to it or develop their
own. Information recommended for such
web pages includes pharmacy personnel
assistance programs, chief wellness officer
roles, coping mechanisms/strategies and/or
emotional intelligence education, including
short videos and/or books, and optionally,
information about the HeartMath tool and
Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When
Stakes Are High book.
Another recommendation is that
NABP evaluate the feasibility of leading a
broad coalition of professional pharmacy
organizations in the development of a
public service announcement that would
provide educational messaging about
pharmacists' work.
Task force members reviewed the relevant
Model State Pharmacy Act and Model Rules of
the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
language and determined that no revisions
are necessary at this time.
Members of the task force included:
* Jeanne Waggener (TX), chair;
* Michael " Mike " Burleson (KY);
* Nichole Cover (MI);
* Timothy " Tim " Fensky (MA);
* Laura Forbes (VI);
* Jennifer Keonavong (AZ);
* Donna Montemayor (TX);
* Kari Shanard-Koenders (SD);
* Julie Spier (TX);
* Joanne Trifone (MA);
* Cyndi Vipperman (OR);
* Fred M. Weaver (OH);
* Deborah C. Mack, Executive Committee
liaison; and
* Lenora S. Newsome, guest
The task force report was approved by the
Executive Committee during its November
28, 2023 meeting and is available in the
Resources section on the NABP website.
Task Force Charge
1 Review the differences between work-induced stress that may affect
mental health versus mental health conditions that are preexisting, and
how they both can create unsafe working conditions for pharmacy staff.
2 Provide resources to support mental health and well-being for
pharmacists and pharmacy staff.
3 Amend, if necessary, the Model State Pharmacy Act and Model Rules
of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy accordingly.
https://nabp.pharmacy/members/board-resources/model-pharmacy-act-rules/ https://nabp.pharmacy/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Report-of-the-Task-Force-on-Pharmacists-and-Pharmacy-Personnel-Mental-Health-and-Well-Being.pdf https://nabp.pharmacy/members/board-resources/model-pharmacy-act-rules/
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